Deflated Dons try to stay positive

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Wimbledon winger Gareth Ainsworth believes another year in the First Division will not be a disaster for the club.

That possibility is a little closer today after Wimbledon squandered an opportunity to move closer to the play-off positions by drawing 3-3 against Crewe in front of only 5,468 fans at Selhurst Park.

Wimbledon let a two-goal lead slip and they are now six points adrift of the top six.

But while manager Terry Burton refuses to give up on reaching the play-offs until it is mathematically impossible for them to do so, Ainsworth believes another year out of the top flight will not do them any harm. He said: "Forget what anyone else might say or think, this year has been an amazing one for the club.

"When we came down last season there seemed to be plenty of people willing to suggest that we were going to do a Manchester City and bomb straight out of this division into the Second.

"After everything that has happened, for us to even be in the position that we are now is amazing. It would be fantastic if we managed to sneak into the top six but it won't be a disaster if we don't return to the Premiership this year.

"One of the many things to have shone through over the past few months is not only the quality of the players but the tremendous spirit among all of us. Sometimes that is something the biggest chequebook in the world can't buy.

"That's why, whatever happens between now and the end of the season, we have real hope for the future."

But their immediate hopes of reaching the play-offs were hit by a massive setback against Crewe.

Wimbledon went two-up in the first five minutes through Chris Willmott and Kevin Cooper and a rout looked on the cards.

But Mark Rivers pulled one back before half-time to give the Dons the jitters and, despite Neil Ardley's deflected third, Crewe levelled matters with goals from Rob Hulse and Dean Ashton.

Although substitute Michael Hughes missed a chance from six yards and Ardley thumped a 25-yard drive against an upright, Wimbledon were forced to settle for a point.

It means they have to win their three remaining games against Fulham, Huddersfield and Norwich to stand any chance of reaching the top six.

That is something Burton believes can still be achieved even though he criticised his players for their poor defensive performance.

Burton said: "We are disappointed but you don't win games when you defend poorly and that is what happened.

"We didn't defend our box well enough. We conceded two goals indirectly from free-kicks and that is disappointing but I'm not going to give up on the play-offs until it is mathematically impossible for us to reach them.

"Nobody expects us to win at Fulham on Saturday and if we do then maybe it will even up things."

Wimbledon were without skipper Kenny Cunningham and midfielder Trond Andersen because of international commitments with the Republic of Ireland and Norway respectively. But, while admitting they were missed, Burton refused to make excuses.

He added: "Kenny was picked for his country and there is nothing we can do about that

"He has been instrumental in our good run and, of course, you are going to miss your good players.

"In the second half we hit the post and their goalkeeper made some good saves. But we defended badly and it is disappointing to score three goals at home and not claim maximum points."

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